Grab



Z i 0 \w \w Q mw v 4 a @ug fir JT/WMYJ GALE/FAITH Y ATTORNEY March 10, 1931. s. s. GALBRAITH GRAB Filed Feb. 24, 1930 I Patented Mar. 1%, 1931 PJ JL EN E STANLEY S. GALBRAETl-I, O1 FABMINGTON, TENNESLaEE GRAB Application filed February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,903.

My present invention has reference to a grab for cleaning or recovering articles from well casings, etc. and my object is to provide a device which will grapple and automatically take hold of objects with which it comes in contact. i

A. still further object is the provision of a grab with claw-like jaws that are spring influenced to swingthe same toward each other,

and that are held in open'position by a trigger device of a novel construction.

, A still further object is the provision of a grab that shall be of an extremely simple construction, wherein the parts constituting is thesame may be readily disassociated should occasion require and one that may be set without liability of danger to the user, and one which will effect a powerful grip upon the article to be engaged thereby.

' T0 the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement also resides in certain other novel; features of construction, combination and operative association of parts one satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement with parts in section, the jaws of the grapple being in set position. t

Figure 2 is a similar, view' with the jaws closed.

Figure 3 is abottom plan view looking at the device disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trigger.

'Figure 5 is a similar view of one of the we. I As disclosed by thedrawings the improvement contemplates the employment of a tubular body in the nature of a pipe member 1. The pipe has its upper end closed by a threaded plug 2, and to the said upper or outer end of' the plug there is pivotally secured the arms of a bail 3 to which the cable is attached.

The second end of the body 1 is flattened from the opposite sides thereof to provide parallel spaced extensions 1, the ends of the said extensions being open. v

Secured by removable pivots 5 between the said straight ends 1 of the bod 1 there are the shank portions 6 of the gripping jaws. By reference to the drawings it will be noted that the jaws are substantially T-shaped in plan and the central elements of these jaws afford the shanks 6. The lateral elements of the aws have their ends integrally formed with claws 7 which are directed toward each other, and by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the claws of one of the jaws are disposed inwardly with spect to the claws of the second jaw so that the cl; ride etween each other when the jaws closed.

The shanks 6 of the jaws of theimprovement have their outer ends arranged at an angle to their juncture with the lateral portions 8 of the said jaws, and the shanks 6, opposite their pivots 5 have their edges notched to form the same with transverse grooves 9 and the outer walls of these grooves are preferably disposed at an angle. The shanks of the jaws are at all times contacted by lower cup members 10 that provide for the reception of the lower or outer end of the comparatively heavy coil spring 11. The second end of the spring is also engaged by a cup member 12 and this cup member is held positioned on the body 1 through the medium of a pin 13 that passes transversely through the body.

In the body, adjacent to the outer end thereof there is fixed a guide 14 for the stem 15 on a trigger 16. The outer end of the trigger member 16 is widened and the said trigger member is approximately centrally formed with a lateral enlargement in the nature of a block 17 The block is of a size to be freely received between the ends a or" the body 1. The block has its lower portion formed with lateral extensions 18 and the outer end of the said block is formed with tongues 19 whose outer walls are at an angle and whose inner walls are straight and divided from the outerflat portion 20 of the trigger by notches 21.

Arranged around the part 15 of the trigger and exerting a pressure between the stop member 14 and the shoulder provided by the inner end of the block 17 there is a compara- QV tively light helical spring 22.

As disclosed by Figurel of the drawings the outer and widened end of the trigger 16 projects beyond thepointed ends of the claws 'Z of thejaws when the jaws are in open po sition, and when in such position the tongues 19 are received in the grooves 9 of the shanks 6 and the pressure exerted by the spring 22 holds the jaws thus open. The contact of the trigger member with an article in awell casing will move the trigger against the pressure of the comparatively light spring 22, permit-,

ting theexpansion of the heavy spring 11 which swings the aws to closed position to effectively grapple an obstacle therebetween.

' The device is set by a pressure against the cup 10 for compressing the spring 11 and thereafter by swinging the jaws to the position disclosed byFigure 1,-when the said jaws are automatically engagedby the tongues on the trigger. The parts constituting theimprovement are all removable, the spring 11 being released from the tubular body by the removal of thepinf13, thejaws being separated from the body by the removal of the pivots 5,

in which instance the trigger will readily slide out of the body. Also if desired, the stop element14; maybe in the nature ofea pin or like removable member which has a central opening that affords a guide passage for the, part -15 of the trigger. Itis believed the construction ofthe improvement and the advantages thereof will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which such inventionrelates so that further detailed description will not be apparent. Obviously -I wish it understood that I do not'desire to be restricted to the precise details hereinset the body,-a comparatively heavy coil spring having its ends received in the cup members,

a trigger having a block portion which. is guidedin the slotted portiono f the body and having an extension which is guided in the body, a comparatively light spring urging the trigger outward through the body, the block portion of the trigger having lateral extensions which are received in the slotted portions of the body and which have their outer faces formed 'withtongues to be received in the grooves in the shanks of the jaws, and the lower cup at all times contacting with the shanks of said jaws.

2. A grapple of the class described, including a hollow body having one of its ends slotted longitudinally, gripping jaws having shank portions which are pivoted in the said slotted portion of the body and which shanks opposite their bolts are notched, upper and lower cup members slidable on the body, a pin for holding the upper cup member on the body, a comparatively heavy coil spring hav-- ing its ends received in the cup members, a trigger having a block portion which is guided in the slotted portion of the body and having an extension which is guided in the body, a comparatively light spring urging the trigger outward through the body, the block portion of the trigger having lateral extensions which are received in the slotted portions of the body and which have their outer faces formedwlth tongues to be received in the grooves in the shanks of the jaws, and the lower cup at all times contacting with the shanks of said jaws, said jaws comprising members which are of substantially T- shaped'formation, the central elements affording the shanks, and claws integrally formed on the ends of the lateral elements of the jaws.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

STANLEY GALBRAITH.

forth and, therefore, hold myself entitled'to .make such changes therefrom as fairly fall 

